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“Hey, Avraam. How’s things going?” I say when I answer the phone, flicking it to loud speaker on the desk in my office. I’m trying to rush through the last of the paperwork I need to file away before I can get out of here.

“Things are good? How’s work? How’s life? Are you doing ok?” my brother replies.

“I’m so happy it’s Friday,” I sigh. “It’s been the longest week ever and I’m exhausted. But other than being overtired—I’m good.”

Avraam takes a deep breath on the other side of the phone. “And—what have you got planned for the weekend ?”

I know better than to tell him the truth—that I am going clubbing tonight. I never go clubbing and I can’t wait to see what it’s like. I want to do something different for a change.

Some of my work friends are going to one of the apparently popular places here in the city. Right around the corner from the office.

I bite at my bottom lip.

“I’m going to grab some takeout and watch that new series that just came out—with the family that goes into space to try to start a new life on Mars.” I hate lying to him. But it’s so much easier than having him lecture me about how dangerous it is out there.

“You and your Sci-Fi. You’re such a nerd,” he chuckles.

“ Whatever . Says the guy who got me into Sci-Fi in the first place,” I giggle. “How’s your life going?” I ask, changing the subject away from myself.

“Everything’s amazing. You should come for dinner soon. I have someone I want you to meet.”

“Ugh, as soon as I have a moment free. I’ve worked so late every night this week. I get home and pass out almost instantly. Who do you want me to meet?” I ask curiously.

“It doesn’t matter. We’ll make a plan when you have time. I’m proud of you, you know. As long as you are taking care of yourself and staying out of trouble, you’re going to do great things.”

I roll my eyes.

My brother is amazing. He has been very supportive of me through my studies and building my career, but he’s so over protective that it makes me want to scream.

If he knew I was going out dancing tonight, he would flip his lid and have several intense lectures lined up for me. One time, out of the blue, he even hired a security guard to follow me everywhere for a week. It was crazy. People looked at me like I was someone famous.

He would do something like that, or he would flat out refuse to let me go.

Sometimes I think he forgets that I’m an adult and I get to make my own choices.

I have no idea why he wants to keep me locked away in a little box all the time or what in the world he thinks he’s protecting me from. The city really isn’t that dangerous.

Even the apartment he got me—it’s in one of the highest security buildings I’ve ever seen. I swear sometimes he makes me feel like I’m being hunted or something and he’s the only thing keeping me from being snatched away.

“I always stay out of trouble,” I laugh. “You already know that. But I really have to go now. I still have quite a bit to do before I can leave, and I’m ready to fall asleep on my desk.”

“Alright, kiddo. I’ll give you a call soon and we can make some dinner plans. Let me know what that new series is like. Maybe I’ll add it to my list.”

“Ok, have a nice night. Chat soon. Love you.”

“Love you too.”

I hang up the phone with a river of guilt flowing through me. I have never lied to him like that before. My stomach feels tight because of it.

But honestly, he’s worse than an overprotective parent. I don’t feel like asking permission to go out with my friends when I am a grown woman who is perfectly capable of looking after herself.

I grin and shake my head, also shaking off the guilt. What he doesn’t know can’t hurt him, right? A girl is allowed to have a little fun now and then.

“Are you almost done? We want to get there early and see if we can get one of the booth tables near the dance floor before it gets too crowded.” Siana and I have been working together for over a year. She is probably my closest friend and happens to be in the little cubicle office right next door to me.

“I’m kind of done here, but aren’t we going to go home first and change?”

She looks me up and down and I glance down at my own dress.

“But you look amazing. Just take off the jacket, leave it behind. And pull your hair loose. You can’t go clubbing with such a neat up do,” she laughs.

I shrug the grey suit jacket off my shoulders and hang it over the back of my chair. My little black dress is tight and too revealing to wear at work without the jacket. But I guess she’s right—it’s perfect for a night out. The tight fit hugs over my waist and hips and compliments my curves.

She leans over my desk to check what shoes I’m wearing.

Then she nods with satisfaction. Black kitten heels. Comfy and sexy.

I shake my hair loose and let the long dark curls hang over my shoulders, but then decide it will be too annoying when I dance so I flick my head forward, upside down, and gather my hair in a bit of a wild, messy bun and then tug the elastic hair band over it.

Siana steps forward to help by pulling a few strands of hair loose around my face.

“You look way too hot,” she teases.

I glance over at her tight blue dress and shoulder length, straight, blonde hair. She has the kind of beauty that makes the other girls jealous and not want to be friends with her because they think she’ll be full of herself and snooty. But she isn’t anything like that in the slightest bit. She’s an amazing friend with a gorgeous heart.

“Come on, we’ve booked two Ubers. We’re all leaving our cars here in the security parking area. We can get them tomorrow.”

“Ok. I’ll be two minutes,” I say, turning back to the mess on my desk and trying to move my ass faster so I can get out of here.

In the Uber XL we are all hyper and excited. We’re all talking at once, squished together like sardines, giggling for no reason. The girls climbed into this one and the guys took the other one. Except for Joni and Benton, but they’re dating, and no one can separate them even for a second. Joni is suffering in the guys' car. She’s missing out on this incredible vibe.

I can’t stop smiling.

There is an amazing sense of freedom bubbling through my blood and I haven’t even arrived at the club yet.

I feel independent.

Making my own choices and getting out into the world.

When we arrive at the club, my excitement triples.

Heavy bass vibrates against my skin as we step through the doors into the dimly lit, somewhat smokey atmosphere.

It’s pulsing with energy. I thought arriving early would mean the club would be quieter, but it’s not.

Our group of friends starts splitting off, some going towards the bar, some going straight to the dance floor.

Siana grabs my hand and drags me towards the long bar that wraps around the dance floor.

“Two double shots of tequila, please,” she shouts over the music.

“Siana! You’re crazy!” I shout at her, but she sticks her tongue out at me and grins.

“We’re here to have fun. It’s been a freaking week and a half. Don’t fight me on this.”

I roll my eyes but can’t hide the smile on my face.

Swallowing tequila feels like taking a shot of gasoline and pouring it down my throat. It’s disgusting . Proper gross.

And the second shot tastes worse than the first.

I pull a disgusted face, sticking my tongue out slightly, and Siana shoves a slice of lemon into my mouth. “Bite onto it. It helps.”

Thank fuck. It does help. The sour tang distracts me from the alcoholic burn.

Of course, before I know it, the tequila is kicking in and I don’t care that it tasted horrible. I want another one.

“Let’s dance first,” Siana laughs. “If I give you another one now, your wild side will come out too early.”

“But I’ve never met my wild side. I want her to be free,” I laugh.

On the dance floor we stay close together, laughing and enjoying the thick blanket of heat and smoke and loud music. I dance as though I don’t have a care in the world, lifting my arms, smiling and wondering why in the world my brother never let me go to places like this.

I was mistaken, thinking the place was energetic when I arrived. That was quiet compared to what it is now and the later it gets, the more crowded it gets.

On the dance floor, people are crushed together and you have to hold your ground if you want to keep your space.

I’m loving it.

Looking around, I want to ask Siana if it’s time for another tequila, but I can’t find her. A weird sensation runs down the back of my neck, a tingling feeling that makes me turn around and search the crowd.

That’s when I see him.

The ridiculously, extremely, totally freaking gorgeously hot guy standing at the bar watching me.

He smirks when our eyes meet, and my legs want to crumble beneath me. Is he honestly looking at me?

He has to be the hottest guy I’ve ever seen in my life, and he’s looking at me .

I grin, feeling a little silly because I’m sure I’m supposed to act coy and demure and seductive. But there is tequila in my blood stream. Besides, I have no clue how to act seductively. I wouldn’t even know where to start.

I turn away from him because my cheeks start flushing hot and I know they’ll be turning bright red and I don’t want him to see that. With my back to him, I carry on dancing. Maybe I do know how to act cool about this.

He doesn’t need to know I’m just trying to hide my flushed cheeks.

I move my hips with the idea that I might be teasing him.

Swaying from side to side.

Out of nowhere, someone shoves someone on the dance floor and a mini riot breaks out. People are shouting and getting angry and I’m stumbling all over the place, trying not to get knocked to the floor.

“What the hell?!” I shout over the music, annoyed that people are acting so recklessly.

A guy comes tumbling across the floor straight into me and I go flying backwards. Preparing to land on the hard floor, I hold my breath and shut my eyes tightly.

But instead of hitting the floor, I land in someone’s arms.

Massive, muscular, thick arms that hold me as though I weigh nothing at all.

I open my eyes to look at my savior and it’s him.

My heart races wildly.

He’s even more divine from up close. I can’t breathe. I’m just staring at him like a compete idiot. Grinning. Not saying anything.

Say something, Aly. Words. Use your words.

“Hi,” I giggle.

Really? Hi. Wow.

I feel my cheeks flushing pink again.

The mysterious stranger grins and his perfectly shaped lips curl upwards, pressing into his cheeks. His jaw is angular, sharply edged, and a dark shadow of stubble adds to his look.

Caramel blonde hair I want to run my fingers through, shaggy, long enough to fall into his piercing grey eyes.

I’m still staring.

Stop staring.

“Are you ok?” he asks, and his deep voice vibrates through me, moving like the music beneath my skin to bewitch me.

“I’m Aly,” I reply.

He laughs again.

“Are you ok, Aly?”

“Oh. Yes. Yes. I’m fine. Thank you for catching me. That was amazing. You just came out of nowhere and saved me.”

He slowly unwraps his arm from around my waist and clears his throat. I don’t want him to leave. There is something about him that makes me feel like I know him. As though we knew each other in some other life.

“How can I repay you?” I ask, biting my lower lip and hoping he will stay a little while longer.

“Dance with me,” he says without hesitation.

He holds his hand out and I place mine in his and let him lead towards the dance floor. The chaos is over. Whatever dispute caused the outburst has clearly been resolved.

He pulls me right up against his body as we start moving together in time to the beat.

My heart is going a million miles an hour.

Every muscle in his body seems to be sculpted to perfection as I trace my hands up his chest and my eyes graze over his arms. His sleeves are rolled up over his forearms, which are taunt with muscle.

His biceps and shoulders bulge against the fabric, and I can’t stop staring.

He runs his hand up my back and an electric charge ignites inside me.

I’ve never felt this way before. This connected, this alive.

Who is this man?